Bluetongue Information

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The first new cases of Bluetongue have been detected in the UK as a result of post-import testing in both cattle and sheep imported from the continent.  

This emergence emphasises the importance of vaccination as the only effective tool to protect susceptible animals from Bluetongue, and as all of England and Wales are now within the Vaccination Zone  it is important we remain vigilant and we encourage farmers to vaccinate as soon as vaccine is available to them.  

The situation in France so far this year where there are over 4,000 new confirmed infections highlights what can happen without widespread vaccination and is a warning to us all of the issues connected with this inconspicuous disease.  

If the virus is now circulating in the UK all unvaccinated cattle are at risk of serious medical problems such as infertility, stunted growth rates and mortality, when the cost of vaccine is compared to these losses it is far better to be safe than sorry

Livestock keepers in the areas inthe Protection Zone are able to obtain the vaccine from the time they become part of the Zone; however, they are encouraged to order vaccine in advance through their vet. The vaccine will be available in 20ml, 50ml and 100ml bottles

This means that all cattle and sheep within the extended zone will be able to obtain and use vaccine from this date. 

Vaccine Rollout

The protection zone is now being rolled out  with the arrival of vaccine on a county by county basis based on the number of bluetongue susceptible animals.

Following the availability of additional doses of Bluetongue vaccine into the supply chain, on 11th August the Protection Zone (PZ) was extended further.  

Vaccination is only legal within the PZ which now covers all areas previously in the zone and also the Counties of Durham and Tyne and Wear (Metropolitan Boroughs of Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland) and the Unitary Authorities of Hartlepool, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland. As more vaccine is produced more of England and Wales will be included in the protection zone.  

The roll out of the PZ is likely to be speeded up as the Defra order of 13 million doses is produced by Merial over the coming months allowing much more of the country to vaccinate, this should mean that England and Wales will all be within the Protection Zone as the vaccination roll out steps up.

                                                               

Livestock Movements

Although movement of livestock is permitted within the PZ, RABDF encourage all livestock owners to vaccinate as soon as they are able to. The message is still clear, Don’t Hesitate – Vaccinate!  

Although no licence is officially required for movement of animals within the zone, there are a number of reasons why vaccination must be encouraged on as larger scale as possible.

• Bluetongue is a silent disease; particularly in cattle there can be few, if any signs shown. Therefore apparently healthy animals may have the disease and be transported around the country to other susceptible cattle.
• Cattle that are vaccinated could be transported to susceptible areas and carry an infected midge with them.

By ensuring that all livestock are vaccinated it is possible to eliminate these risks and stop the spread of disease.

Vaccinated animals will not be able to move out of a Protection Zone unless they are being moved direct to slaughter, or they can be certified as vaccinated and meet the criteria set out in Annex III of DEFRA’s Bluetongue Regulations, which includes:

• Being vaccinated more than 60 days before the date of movement (but no longer than the length of protective immunity set out in the vaccine specifications)
• They have been PCR tested with negative results 14 days after the onset of protective immunity.
• They were previously vaccinated and have been re-vaccinated within the immunity period.
• They were kept during a Vector Free Period more than 60 days before the date of vaccination and after the onset of protective immunity.

Scotland have ordered 13 million doses of vaccine to be used in a compulsory vaccination campaign during the vector free period and although they do not have plan to vaccine until that time the order should provide them with enough cover for contingency in this vector period. 

Defra have confirmed that it is possible for maternal transmission of the disease after cases in calves have been identified born from Dams which had bluetongue last year. It is not yet clear if the calves are capable of passing virus to naïve midges yet, therefore the risk is not yet calculated and for these reasons the movement of pregnant animals has come under more stringent licence. 

Joint campaign Against Bluetongue

The RABDF is part of the Joint campaign Against Bluetongue – JAB. The campaign supported by Defra and Animal Health is a cross sector campaign involving 12 industry representatives supporting the plan for vaccination and to ensure that livestock and livelihoods are protected.

www.defra.gov.uk/bluetongue
http://www.iah.ac.uk/
http://www.bluetongue-info.co.uk/